Gordon Ramsay’s Australian Nightmare

Maze and maze Grill, two of Gordon Ramsay’s Melbourne restaurants, were put into liquidation this month.

MELBOURNE, Australia — British celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay’s television show, “Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares,” was all about turning around struggling restaurants, usually while delivering withering, expletive-laden verbal assaults on their owners and chefs.

One can’t help wondering what words of advice some of the targets of Ramsay’s barbs might have for the Scottish-born, Michelin-starred chef, after his Melbourne-based maze and maze Grill restaurants were put into liquidation this month.

Reuters

Gordon Ramsay is a well-known chef who stars in several TV shows, including ‘Hell’s Kitchen.’

“We’re investigating the circumstances why the business is in liquidation,” liquidator Steven Michell said, adding that the restaurants were continuing to trade.

Mr. Michell said the restaurants owed 4.8 million Australian dollars (US$5.1 million) to creditors, including Mr. Ramsay’s own company, Gordon Ramsay Holdings, the Australian Taxation Office and entitlements to its approximately 140-person staff.

Maze and maze Grill opened last year at the city’s Crown Metropol Hotel, next to the Crown casino and entertainment complex, at a glittering event attended by Ramsay himself, Crown owner James Packer and Australian cricketing great Shane Warne.

Melbourne’s newly released “Good Food Guide” rated maze 15 points out of 20 and gave it a prestigious “hat,” while maze Grill was rated 14 points out of 20.

Crown is disappointed maze and maze Grill have been placed into liquidation, saying in a statement it was one of Australia’s highest grossing and popular restaurants with a turnover last year of A$14 million.

“Crown is firmly of the view that the business is not only sustainable but will continue to be popular and highly successful,” Crown spokesman Gary O’Neill said.

Mr. Michell said liquidators were working with Crown on the business and that Crown was “being very supportive.”

Mr. Ramsay’s woes at maze follow turmoil at the top of his business, with the chef sacking Chief Executive and father-in-law Chris Hutcheson in October.

Mr. Ramsay is also reportedly suing his wife’s family for millions of dollars, with Mr. Hutcheson accused of withdrawing money from the company to fund a double life with a secret second “wife” and family.

Mr. Ramsay’s business didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.